On April 8, 2022, Tampa Sister Cities, in collaboration with Tampa Bay Carnaval de Barranquilla, presented a Carnaval show. The show featured all of the elements associated with Carnaval, bright colors, music, and costumes. The Carnaval celebration also honored a local Tampa resident selected as this year’s Queen of the Barranquilla Carnaval in Tampa Bay.
The event showcased folklore, music, and dance from the Colombian Caribbean coast. The event spotlighted the local Queen, Yasmeen Armoush, who thrilled the audience through several dances and elaborate costumes. The event gave the people of Tampa a sampling of the annual festivities taking place in Barranquilla, Colombia, for more than 130 years.
According to George Martinez, the Director of the Tampa-Barranquilla Sister Cities Affiliate Committee, “The event captured the spirit of the people of Colombia, especially those from Barranquilla who celebrate every year Carnaval with a great deal of joy and exuberance.”
The event was a great success and the product of the first-time collaboration between Tampa Sister Cities and Tampa Bay Carnaval de Barranquilla.
Alfred Goldberg, 2020-2022 President of Tampa Sister Cities, and Yasmeen Armoush, the 2022 Queen of Carnival de Barranquilla en Tampa Bay
Tampa Sister Cities President Alfred Goldberg said, “We are looking to partner with other community organizations that share our mission to promote cultural exchange. For example, alongside the Tampa Bay Carnaval de Barranquilla organization, Tampa Sister Cities hopes to make the Carnaval an annual event.”
Barranquilla is Tampa’s oldest sister city. The relationship dates back to 1966. For 56 years, both cities have collaborated with exchanges of art, music, commerce, education, and civic endeavors. The two cities have a lot in common. Both have similar weather, are port cities with thriving international airports, a vibrant economy, and have embraced immigrants from many nations. For more information, contact Tampa Sister Cities at communications@tampasistercities.org.
About Tampa Sister Cities
Tampa’s Sister City programs operate as non-profit, independent organizations and heavily depend on voluntary support and contributions. During the 1960s, citizens and government officials recognized the importance of developing closer international relations, and the search for a Sister City began. The success of this program prompted the development of other goodwill sister relations. To the present date, Tampa has formed eleven Sister City relationships. If you are interested in joining Tampa Sister Cities or would like to volunteer, please review our website at https://www.TampaSisterCities.org/.
About Tampa Bay Carnaval de Barranquilla
Tampa Bay Carnaval de Barranquilla is a non-profit organization constituted in 2007 to fortify and preserve the culture and folklore of Colombia.
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